Bustle



(No Model.)

T. P. TAYLOR.

BUSTLEr No. 359,232. Patented Mar. 8, 1887 Warren STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS P. TAYLOR, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

BUSTLE.

EPECIE'ICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,232, dated March 8, 1887. Application filed Dccemheriz'l, 188a. Serial No. 222,569. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS P. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bustles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the manufacture of wire bustles, and has for its object to simplify and cheapen their construction and at the same time to greatly improve their operation in use.

"With these ends inview I have devised the simple and novel construction, of which the following description, inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, the several parts of the device being indicated by numbers.

Figure l is a perspective of my improved bustle complete, and Fig. 2 a perspective of the wire frame.

It is of course well understood by those familiar with these articles that the essential re quirements are that they shall belight and shall be so constructed as to collapse easily when the wearer sits down, but adapted to instantly spring back into place when the wearer rises, so that the drapery of the dress will be restored to the bouf/hnt condition, which is of course the primary object for which they are worn.

My present invention is an improvement upon the bustle illustrated and described in my pending application, Serial No. 220,640, filed December 4, 1886; and it consists, essen tially, of side pieces and a distending portion consisting of a springrib connected to the side pieces by coils, and two or more independent ribs loosely secured to the coils which connect the spring-rib with the side pieces.

1 denotes the side pieces; 2, the spring-rib; 3, coils by which the spring-rib is connected to the side pieces, and 4 independent ribs loosely connected to said coils. The side pieces and the spring-rib constitute the frame-work of the hustle and are made from a single piece of wire, eyes 5 being provided at the ends of the piece of wire-that is, at the upper ends of the side pieces of the completed frame-work. The belt 6 is connected to the eyes, being preferably made in two pieces and connected by a buckle, 7, between the side pieces, whercby the width of the top of the bustle is made adjustable. The independent ribs may be made of either fiat or round wire, or of twin wire, and are preferably covered with paper or cloth. They are held in position by a strip, 8, of textile material, which extends from one of the eyes downward diagonally to the center of the spring-rib, being secured to each of the independent ribs by eyelets 9, and after passing around the spring-rib extends diagonally upward to the eye at the top of the other side piece, being eyeleted again to each of the independent ribs.

10 denotes a strip of textile material, preferably provided with a buckle, 7, extending across between the coils, by which the bustle is made adj ustable at the bottom.

In use the entire bustle will fold up flat against the wearer when in a sitting position, in the same manner as the bustle illustrated and described in my former application re ferred to. When the wearer rises, the spring rib instantly resumes its original position and draws the independent ribs to their proper positions by means of strip 8, so that the drapery of the dress must instantlyassume its proper form.

Having thus claim-- l. As a new manufacture, a bustle consisting, essentially, of two side pieces and a springrib connected thereto by ends of said side pieces, and one or more independent ribs connected to said coils and held in operative position by a strip, substantially as described.

2. A bustle consisting of side pieces and a spring-rib connected thereto by coils at the lower ends of the side pieces, independent ribs connected to said coils, a strip, 8, connected to the spring-rib, the independent ribs and the tops of the side pieces, and an adjustable strip, 10, connecting the side pieces at the bottom,

described my invention, I

whereby the size of the bustle may be regulated. 3. A bustle consisting of side pieces having coils at the lower eyes at the tops, rib 2, connected to said side a curved spring-rib at the bottom connected pieces by coils, independent ribs 4, loosely 0011-, to said side pieces by coils. Io nected to said coils, strip 8, connected to the In testimony whereof I affix my signature in eyes and to the ribs, an adjustable strip, 10, presence of two Witnesses.

5 and a belt, 6, made adjustable between the THOMAS P. TAYLOR,

side pieces, as and for the purpose set forth. \Vitnesses:

4. A frame-work for folding bustles, consist- A. M. VVOOSTER, 2 ing of side pieces having eyes at the tops and G. E. RUGGLES. 

